Despite having participated in, and hosted, many a corporate offsite and strategic workshop, when someone says corporate off-site to me today the first thing I think of is the clip from the UK Office. The one when Ricky Gervais breaks into Free Love Highway during a training seminar.
It’s funny because Ricky Gervais is a genius, but also because we all know how cringeworthy strategy and team-building sessions can be in real-life.
I once had to draw an ideal customer with colored sharpies on an A3 piece of paper. The looks on people’s faces when faced with this task was entirely worth the cringe. I’ll admit it was done tongue in cheek [and the purpose behind the exercise was clear and ultimately fruitful] but still, it was a real ‘Office’ moment.
The Problem with Corporate Off-sites
The problem with many corporate off-sites and team-building getaways is not that your boss is David Brent and insists on bringing his guitar, but that the off-site has no real purpose. All too often it’s “we’ll have a get together, get to know each other outside the office or zoom background, we’ll talk work”. While these are useful ingredients, alone it’s not a recipe to a successful off-site.
What actually makes everyone leave an off-site feeling good is having gleaned new insights, talked-out challenges and opportunities and having refreshed thinking. That’s actually what makes team’s connect.
At a productive corporate offsite, sometimes there are disagreements, often there are seeming dead-ends, but almost always there are breakthroughs.
Don’t Settle For Just Another Hotel Boardroom
I launched Hengarth as a Catskills Corporate Offsite venue to make productive off-sites like these the norm. To better create the space and motivation businesses need to inspire fresh thinking and lasting change.
My aim is to encourage leaders and teams to get out of the boardroom, literally and figuratively, and back into their business.
To do so, teams come together at Hengarth to stay and work in beautiful surroundings and collectively align thinking; find new opportunity, solve a larger problem, and/or plan out a period of work.
You might dedicate an offsite to ensure each participant shares the same vision of company goals, growth, process and culture. Or you may have a specific challenge you’re looking to tackle or growth goal you need to address. Whatever success looks like to you, I pride myself on ensuring there are no cringeworthy moments.
Not Your Average Corporate Off-site
As well as event planning services for your corporate offsite itinerary, I also work with you to create a tailored agenda with relevant content and materials. I can also deliver guided team sessions and strategy workshops that help build higher level breakthroughs for lasting change.
This not only means you get more space to participate fully while safe in the knowledge your objectives and outcomes stay on track, but also if experience has taught me anything – a little outside perspective goes a long way.
The approach is to help teams understand for themselves what’s happening, what change may be needed, and how to actually get there.
I’ve been building brands and growing revenue for many years in many guises. I love getting under the hood of a new product, competitive landscape and market category to find opportunity. But unlike many corporate off-site facilitators, I’m allergic to corporate jargon and playbook pedants.
I also know that you know your business better than anyone. So I work with you to find the right approach, action, discussion points, plans and strategies that work best for you and your business.
You bring an open mindset, we’ll work on a tailored agenda, and I’ll bring candid feedback and transparency to help make the “work” side of your off-site a success. The fresh air, mountain views and stunning location will do the rest!
I also promise not to break out the guitar (unless you request it!)
I’m now taking bookings for Summer and Fall 2024, you can find more detail at www.hengarth.com/corporateoffsites
Jen Manning | Go-to-Market Blog and Services 